Cyclone season: alternative to Australia and New Zealand

[Wellington]

We started a thread a few days ago "Where is the Australian Whangarei?" as we are (were?) looking or a family-friendly place to spend the next cyclone season between Brisbane and Sydney, with the following parameters in mind:
- security (risk of theft, unsafe to swim because of sharks, crocodiles, etc)
- if on the hook or buoy, possibility to leave the boat for a couple of weeks without worrying too much
- local cost of life (food, transportation, etc...)
- convenience (presence of a dinghy dock, shops within walking distance)
- possible local nuisances (mosquitoes, pollution, noise from traffic...)
- privacy (not too close to shore / urbanized areas)
- ease of access from land (bus lines or car rental)
- good and safe schools nearby
Thanks to the responses we received, after a few hours on line reading about the places CF readers suggested, and perusing through the Customs, Biosecurity, Immigration and NSW Dept of Education websites, we are starting to reconsider our plans. We hadn't realized how complicated and expensive Australia could be for a sailing family with 3 school-age kids. That's why we are now looking into Northern alternatives to Australia and New Zealand, above latitude 5 degrees South. In particular, do any of you have recent information on the Solomon Islands (Choiseul, Bougainville), and in PNG New Britain and New Ireland? Of course, it would be a very different experience than Australia, in many ways. A few years ago I remember reading that sailors were not welcome. Many complained of pestering, stealing, and generally speaking a rather unfriendly attitude in the Southern Solomons (if I remember correctly), but not in the Northern Solomons nor in the islands of PNG.
We look forward to hearing if these islands, or others just North of the Equator (Carolines, Marshall) could be reasonable alternatives to Australia and New Zealand to spend the cyclone season.
Thanks for your feedback

[Wellington]

After reading more about the Solomons and PNG, it seems that New Ireland (PNG) and the islands East of New Ireland are rather desirable places to spend the cyclone season. We would welcome any recent information about them, thanks.

[NoTies]

Vuda Marina in Fiji. In the cyclone belt but has proven its resilience on more than one occasion.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Wellington

After reading more about the Solomons and PNG, it seems that New Ireland (PNG) and the islands East of New Ireland are rather desirable places to spend the cyclone season. We would welcome any recent information about them, thanks.

You won't get any schooling, bus lines/car rental (there is no whether to drive to anyway)

Basic commodities other than rice and tinned protein will be expensive if obtainable.

Your concepts of privacy and security are in total conflict.

Leaving the boat for a couple of weeks will cost you a fortune in airfares to get anywhere else.

Bottom line - these areas are NOT suitable for the purpose you outline.

[Wellington]

Originally Posted by StuM

You won't get any schooling, bus lines/car rental (there is no whether to drive to anyway)

Basic commodities other than rice and tinned protein will be expensive if obtainable.

Your concepts of privacy and security are in total conflict.

Leaving the boat for a couple of weeks will cost you a fortune in airfares to get anywhere else.

Bottom line - these areas are NOT suitable for the purpose you outline.

Thanks for your feed-back StuM. Yes, se are aware that PNG or the Solomons would be a totally different experience, and we wouldn't expect any of the Australian / NZ luxuries you have highlighted, including schooling.
Have you visited New Ireland? What do you think of Kavieng?
Based on your experience in PNG, is there a place that you would consider with 3 kids (aged 14, 11 and 8)? From what I have read, life in New Ireland sounds a bit like The San Blas (Panama) and Kavieng like Bocas del Toro - without the American expatriates. What do you think?

[Dsanduril]

We have spent two cyclone seasons in the Marshalls, Kiribati, over to Pohnpei. One with two teen boys, and one with them as young adults. We found it completely fascinating. These places are very remote and, with the exceptions of the capitals very low tech.

I think they are a great learning experience for kids. They are not everyone's cuppa, but if you enjoy the remote places in the world well worth the trouble. Do be advised to go well stocked, supplies are much fewer and farther between than in the Milk Run section of the Pacific. In some cases you may even be the supply boat (search Atoll's threads here for more on that and for his experiences).